Johnny Taliban

By Joseph Farah

We’ve just passed the six-month anniversary.

We’ve been reminded of the horrific, unspeakable devastation that occurred Sept. 11 on every news channel and in every newspaper – and with good reason.

Nothing like this has ever happened before.

It is a time of sobering reflection.

With that in mind, I want to tell you what I’ve been thinking about. I’ve changed my own mind in recent weeks about Johnny “Taliban” Walker. While I once almost felt sorry for him and felt no sense of vengeance toward him, I’ve reconsidered.

Walker is a traitor to the United States. There is no other word for it. He is, in fact, a walking, talking illustration of what a traitor is. And, six months later – as we still conduct our futile search for Osama bin Laden – we should charge him with treason.

Let me tell you why.

Walker willingly became a follower of the Taliban – a regime George Bush now characterizes as among the most repressive the world has ever known. He, too, became a willing follower of bin Laden. Even after he knew al-Qaida had deliberately flown those hijacked planes into the World Trade Center and Pentagon, he made no effort to reconsider his actions. He made no effort to leave the organization.

He was captured on the battlefield with his fellow terrorists. He refused to talk to Americans who interrogated him. He was part of the group that attempted to break from the prison. During the riot, another American was killed.

Yet, Walker has not been charged with treason.

If not Walker, who?

Is treason no longer a charge we feel comfortable levying against anyone?

Has America gone soft? Are we still living in post-Vietnam confusion? Has there ever been a more clear-cut case of treason in the history of the United States? Will there ever be again?

Instead of treason, Walker has been charged with conspiring to kill Americans and aiding bin Laden. That’s a heavy charge and Walker faces life imprisonment for it. But what is the definition of treason?

“Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort,” says the Constitution. “No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.”

Walker has expressed no regrets about his actions against America and Americans. He is not expected to do so in open court. On CNN Dec. 2, 2001, Walker told the world he enjoyed the holy war in which he participated.

What more do we need?

By not charging Walker with treason, the U.S. sends a clear message to other would-be traitors that this crime may never be prosecuted again in these United States.

The case against Walker is strong.

He traveled to Afghanistan specifically to fight with the Taliban. The Taliban referred him to al-Qaida. He knew what al-Qaida was even before Sept. 11. After Sept. 11, he continued to fight with the terrorists against Americans.

Hello? What am I missing?

But it gets worse. He personally met with bin Laden. Before Sept. 11, he learned that a terrorist cell was dispatched to the United States to conduct suicide operations.

How did he react?

He volunteered to enter terrorist training himself – taking courses in explosives, navigation and battlefield combat.

I don’t know about you, but six months later, I am still sickened by the sight of those planes crashing into the World Trade Center. I don’t even want to turn the television on because of the visceral reaction I have to this real-life slaughter – premeditated and planned by Johnny Walker’s friends.

It’s time to exact justice.

We may not have bin Laden, but we do have one of his evil, cowardly, pathetic, miserable “warriors.” Why should we feed and clothe him for the next 60 or 70 years?

I say make an example of him. Charge him with treason, convict him and give him a one-way ticket to meet Allah.


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Joseph Farah

Joseph Farah is founder, editor and chief executive officer of WND. He is the author or co-author of 13 books that have sold more than 5 million copies, including his latest, "The Gospel in Every Book of the Old Testament." Before launching WND as the first independent online news outlet in 1997, he served as editor in chief of major market dailies including the legendary Sacramento Union. Read more of Joseph Farah's articles here.